Chapter 23: The digestive system: gallbladder

Question 1

What is the gallbladder?

Answer 1

a muscular sac mainly posterior to the right lobe of the liver

Question 2

What is the function of the gallbladder?

Answer 2

it stores and concentrates bile from the liver; force concentrated bile into common bile duct

Question 3

is the general structure of the gallbladder?

Answer 3

neck - superior, narrow portion continuous from cystic duct
fundus/head - most inferior, dome shaped part
body - largest, central part between neck and fundus

Question 4

What are the 3 general parts of the gallbladder wall?

Answer 4

mucosa—inner layer with folds/rugae when relatively empty; simple columnar epithelium and lamina
propria of areolar connective tissue
muscularis—middle layer; one layer of smooth muscle; contracts to force bile out
serosa—areolar connective tissue and simple squamous epithelium